On an otherwise uneventful September evening in 2018 a message came in via the Portland Food Map website that immediately got our attention. As you can imagine, most of the unsolicited messages we get are from spam accounts offering instant social media fame and an endless variety of other questionable business solutions. However, the thoughtful message from Jessica Estes was different not just because she turned out to be a real person, but because she had a great idea and one that aligned so well with the community service perspective of Portland Food Map.
A broker and partner at The Boulos Company, Estes’ vision was for a commercial real estate list for Portland’s food and dining industry. Through the fall and early winter the idea took shape, and the outcome was what’s now known as the monthly Restaurant Real Estate list.
Now 6+ years after the first edition went live it’s become a popular feature, and helped many entrepreneurs find the right home for their cafe, bakery, retail shop, bar or restaurant. Perhaps you’ve been one of them?
A recent success story of the list was Luncheonette. Owners Angela Lee and Alex LeBlanc found the former Union Bagel spot in the September 2024 edition of the list. LeBlanc shared this about their search for the right space,
When the time came to find a home for Luncheonette, we really had no idea where to start. It often began with Google searches that led to nowhere and some hazy understanding of lease terms. Eventually we discovered Portland Food Map’s real estate listings and it made so much sense. It’s truly a one of a kind and something we couldn’t find in any city let alone Portland. Every month we would eagerly await the newest list to publish and our daydreaming would start. Then daydreaming turned into action when 147 Cumberland Ave became available and we met Paul from Union Bagel. Fast forward nine months later and Luncheonette is more than anything we thought possible. Oh and we also know the difference between triple net and modified gross now.
Originally focused just on Portland, the list now also includes opportunities in the Greater Portland area and even as far afield as Kingfield and in the Midcoast. From the very start it has featured listings from all the local real estate agencies and from building owners wanting to independently manage the lease of their properties.
The Boulos Company itself recently celebrated an important milestone–the 50th anniversary of when Joe Boulos launched the company. In those early days Joe (later joined by his brother Greg) helped many companies find their first storefront. In fact the Boulos team assisted David Turin in the 1990s to find and lease his landmark location in Monument Square.
Since that first email arrived from Jessica Estes, Portland Food Map’s relationship with The Boulos Company has grown from their initial sponsorship of a popular feature to becoming a valued partner that helps support our overall mission. If you’ve been enjoying the site, social media content and printed pocket guides, you have them in-part to thank for it.
We’re looking forward to working with Boulos in the years to come, and would encourage anyone looking for help in leasing a property or finding a new home for their business to drop them a line at: boulos.com, 207-772-1333 and @thebouloco.
Dining and Cooking